ISWI Chapter 901-902 (Patreon)

Chapter 901: The Heaven-Suppressing Fortune Seal

Two more days passed in the blink of an eye.

The citrus fragrance inside the Divine Maiden Furnace grew richer and more intoxicating with each passing hour.

As for Dantai Xuan's true body, she spent most of her time in a dazed, blissful haze, completely lost in the sensation.

Watching her like this, Ye Chen couldn't help feeling a little worried about her progress. He finally spoke up. "Senior Sister, have you finished collecting the Supreme Severing Dao Technique?"

Dantai Xuan slowly came back to herself. After a long moment, she waved her hand weakly. "Almost… just a little more… Mm… Junior Brother, please endure a bit longer…"

Ye Chen: "…"

Almost? I suspect you're simply enjoying yourself and haven't done any real work. I have no proof, though.

Still, he was going to present her with a gift soon—he should at least leave her some dignity.

Another day passed.

"Senior Sister, is the Supreme Severing Dao Technique complete yet?"

"Mm… almost, almost… mm…"

Ye Chen: "…"

On the sixth day.

"Senior Sister…"

"Soon, soon, soon…"

Ye Chen wasn't sure whether her "soon" referred to the technique or to something else entirely. He glanced at the system interface. The cooldown still had one day left, so he decided not to press her further. If waiting was necessary, then he would wait.

On the seventh day, Ye Chen spoke again.

"Almost there… Don't stop… I'm almost done…"

Ye Chen shook his head helplessly. Something was seriously wrong with this Senior Sister. He wasn't sure whether three years inside the Divine Maiden Furnace had broken her, or whether she had always been like this. But he was done waiting. Once today passed, the cooldown would end. He could finally bestow the gift.

If he let her keep "collecting" at this rate, Ye Chen seriously suspected she could stretch a single Severing Dao Technique across a year and a half. So he would do it himself.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen circulated the secret art once more and began siphoning the stray thoughts leaking from Dantai Xuan's divine sense, swiftly gathering the complete Supreme Severing Dao Technique.

…

Another day went by.

Ye Chen spoke gravely. "Senior Sister, are you finished?"

Dantai Xuan's true body shook her head, eyes misty and unfocused. "Not yet… really, just a tiny bit more! I know you're anxious, Junior Brother, but please don't rush—because I'm anxious too… Gathering a Severing Dao Technique is genuinely very difficult… So… just endure a little longer, please!"

"…"

The corner of Ye Chen's mouth twitched. He sighed and said helplessly, "Senior Sister, I've already finished collecting the Supreme Severing Dao Technique on my side. So you can stop now."

Dantai Xuan's eyes widened instantly. Ye Chen had already finished? How could Ye Chen have finished? Why would Ye Chen finish so quickly? She never should have taught him the secret art. Why did he have to be so fast at everything?

"Is it really complete?" she asked, still reluctant to accept it.

Ye Chen nodded seriously.

This time, Dantai Xuan had nothing left to say. Before, she could claim she was enduring for the sake of the Severing Dao Technique. But if she kept stalling now, there would be no reasonable explanation.

Even so, she lingered for a while longer. Her gaze grew hazy once again. Her divine soul body tensed, then trembled softly for a long moment. Finally, she let out a faint, wistful sigh.

Although his Senior Sister had dawdled and dragged things out, she finally withdrew. Ye Chen let out a quiet breath of relief. He turned to look at the still-bound Supreme Dantai Xuan. Her condition was equally strange.

The cold, unchanging expression that had defined her for ten thousand years had softened considerably, now carrying a faint trace of warmth and humanity.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen decisively severed their soul communion. Supreme Dantai Xuan's first reaction was a reluctant gaze fixed on him. She even stretched out an arm, reaching to pull him back.

But Ye Chen showed no trace of tender affection. He raised his hand and activated the Minor Sealing Technique. A net-like seal woven from endless divine runes coalesced in his palm. It descended gently, like a thin veil, and imprinted itself onto Supreme Dantai Xuan's soul body. Bound by the net of runes, she resembled a captured fish, prompting Ye Chen to steal a few extra glances.

At the side, Dantai Xuan's true body watched with bright, eager eyes. She almost wished she could trade places with her Supreme self.

Having dealt with the Supreme aspect, Ye Chen turned back to his Senior Sister, whose face still held traces of lingering pleasure.

"This sealing technique will hold her for three years. If that's not enough, Senior Sister can come to me later and I'll reinforce it. Here is the Supreme Severing Dao Technique. Please accept it first."

With those words, Ye Chen raised his hand to transmit the freshly acquired technique to her true body. But Dantai Xuan gave him a faintly resentful look and waved her hand.

"I actually managed to finish collecting it myself at the very last moment… So thank you, Junior Brother, but there's no need."

The corner of Ye Chen's mouth curved upward.

I believe you—sure. You were practically convulsing with pleasure at the end.

Clearly, this Senior Sister had completed the collection long ago. She simply enjoyed the experience far too much.

Ye Chen chose not to expose her. He smiled and said, "That's good, then… In that case, allow me to present Senior Sister with these ten Cosmic Origin Crystals next. Once you break through to the Saint realm, you can use them to rapidly advance your cultivation. These ten should be enough to push you to the peak of Saint in just two years. This isn't a mere gift—it's simply Junior Brother's sincere regard."

Ye Chen took out the origin crystals he had condensed from the Origin Sea using the Star God Origin-Gathering Cauldron and handed them to her. When giving gifts, one should give the full set. If he wanted a violent crit from the Supreme Sealing Method, he might as well resolve all the obstacles standing before her path to Saint King.

Dantai Xuan's eyes widened as she stared at the ten radiant, profoundly dense crystals. Cosmic origin power was extraordinarily difficult to gather. For ordinary cultivators, even after hundreds or thousands of years at this realm—sometimes until their lifespan ran dry—they might still come up empty-handed. Yet these ten luminous crystals could propel her straight from early Saint to peak Saint. Their value was simply unimaginable.

The stray thoughts Dantai Xuan had only just suppressed surged back up again. She wanted to keep going. She wanted to be sealed by her Junior Brother, just like her Supreme soul. How painful would it feel when those runes tightened against her skin?

At that exact moment, another wave of the Divine Maiden Furnace's effect surged through her. Her dazed state lasted far longer than before. Ye Chen watched his Senior Sister sway violently, his expression turning strange.

A long while passed before Dantai Xuan finally regained clarity. She looked at Ye Chen with deep gratitude. "Junior Brother, you're far too generous…"

To give her something so precious. It proved beyond doubt that he truly desired her. Such a valuable gift—and she had nothing adequate to repay him? Since he desired her, why not give herself to him? They were both cultivators; such worldly details hardly mattered.

Ye Chen smiled and waved his hand. "Senior Sister, you're the one being too polite. We come from the same sect. Helping each other is only natural. Now, allow me to bestow upon you the Supreme Sealing Method. Once you reach peak Saint, you can directly condense the Heavenly Heart Imprint. I've been in the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land for so many years, yet this is truly the first time I've met the real Senior Sister. Consider this my proper greeting gift."

Dantai Xuan raised an eyebrow. If one were to speak of true value, the Cosmic Origin Crystals were clearly the more precious offering. Yet Ye Chen deliberately called the Supreme Sealing Method his gift. Obviously, he didn't want her to feel burdened by the extravagance. That was why he had phrased it this way.

And considering how restrained he had been these past few days—completely at odds with the rumors about him—it was clear. Ye Chen held deep respect for her as his Senior Sister, which was why he had refrained from acting freely.

Dantai Xuan rather wished he would show a little less respect and a little more boldness. But such words were difficult to voice. She nodded earnestly. "Thank you for the greeting gift, Junior Brother. Right now, it's inconvenient for me here, so I haven't prepared anything in return. I'll make it up to you next time."

Ye Chen smiled without replying. He simply extended the fingertip of his divine soul and touched it to the center of her brow. The Supreme Sealing Method surged forth in an instant. At that precise moment, another powerful wave rose from the Divine Maiden Furnace.

Dantai Xuan's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground. Through the connection, Ye Chen clearly sensed it. From his true body outside came a rich, intoxicating fragrance—like freshly peeled citrus—wafting from the tip of his nose.

Senior Sister… really?

Ye Chen felt a touch of speechlessness. But he quickly had no time to dwell on it. Because a system prompt sounded in his mind:

"Congratulations, Host. Gift bestowal successful."

"Gift bestowed: Supreme Sealing Method!"

"Seven-thousandfold feedback in progress!"

"Detected that the gift is of extreme importance to the recipient, triggering intense reaction…"

"Host has activated top-notch critical feedback!"

"Feedback: Heaven-Suppressing Fortune Seal!"

"Condensing this seal upon achieving Saint King allows one to draw upon the will of heaven and bolster oneself…"

"It can obscure heavenly secrets, rendering even Immortal Kings unable to divine them…"

"It can suppress portions of heavenly will and nurture one's own fortune…"

"The stronger one's fortune, the greater the heavenly will one can suppress…"

"Fortune represents the momentum of the age, the convergence of public will. The more dominant one appears in the world, the grander one's aura, the more flourishing one's fortune…"

"Suppressing heavenly will can influence others' tribulations and sever enemies from heavenly blessings…"

"Those who oppose you and are defeated by your hand will suffer suppression and a reduction in their fortune…"

"…"

Ye Chen raised his brows in astonishment as he read the feedback, genuinely impressed. The Supreme Sealing Method was already of very high grade. But outsiders could not cultivate it.

Coupled with his Senior Sister's peculiar tastes, Ye Chen had gifted it with some expectation—but not much. He never imagined the feedback would be so extraordinary. It actually touched upon the profoundly mysterious domain of fortune.

Fortune was an enigmatic concept. Even the top powerhouses of the cultivation world could not fully comprehend it. Yet all acknowledged its existence. Those with great fortune, even if their talent was not supreme, could still step by step ascend the path to immortality and ultimately succeed.

But if one's fortune was lacking—No matter how exceptional their talent—They might always just miss the opportunities and treasures meant for them. Or be born in an era when the Immortal Path would not open for tens of thousands of years. Or possess the qualifications to ascend, only to watch helplessly as the Heavenly Emperor destroyed the Jianmu Tree…

A cultivator's aptitude and talent were one thing. Fortune was something else entirely. In short, Ye Chen found himself deeply interested in this Heaven-Suppressing Fortune Seal. He had originally planned to bestow similar sealing arts on others later, compare their qualities, and select the best. Now, however, he felt that this one right in front of him was probably the most suitable.

Chapter 902: Riches and Honor Lie in the Midst of Danger!

Ye Chen carefully examined the Heaven-Suppressing Fortune Seal. He noted its ability to suppress and weaken an opponent's fortune—even influencing heavenly tribulations—and felt a spark of curiosity. The more he studied it, the more satisfied he became. Though his Senior Sister had rather unconventional tastes, she undeniably possessed real substance.

Just for granting him this Heaven-Suppressing Fortune Seal through feedback, Ye Chen was willing to fully acknowledge her as his Senior Sister.

Meanwhile, Dantai Xuan digested the Supreme Severing Dao Technique and Supreme Sealing Method she had received, all while her mind wandered. She reflected that her earlier actions had been quite bold.

But she knew she wasn't normally like this. The main reason was obvious: three full years of being refined inside the Divine Maiden Furnace had affected her. It was only natural. Blame the furnace—she was innocent.

Having neatly assigned responsibility, she began pondering how to persuade Ye Chen to seal her Supreme soul once more. She sensed his gaze shift toward her. His eyes carried gentleness, approval, and closeness.

That look made Dantai Xuan's own eyes tremble uncontrollably. After a long moment, she finally exhaled deeply.

Ye Chen saw that she had finished processing and opened his mouth to speak. But Dantai Xuan spoke first. "Junior Brother, I still have some doubts about my future cultivation after reaching Saint King… I'm worried there might be hidden dangers—that she could somehow regain dominance if I'm not careful. To know oneself and know the enemy is to win every battle. So I think I should collect her thoughts one more time and clarify everything…"

Ye Chen swallowed the words he had been about to say. His Senior Sister was currently only at peak Half-Saint. Between her and Saint King lay the entire vast Saint realm. Yet she was already fretting over what came after Saint King? Wasn't that a bit premature?

Ye Chen began to suspect her true intentions.

The sealed Supreme Dantai Xuan spoke up. "There's no need. If you have questions, ask me directly. I'll answer honestly…"

Dantai Xuan glanced at her and replied crisply, "I don't believe you."

Supreme Dantai Xuan: "I really will tell you…"

Dantai Xuan: "I don't believe you…"

"I have no reason to deceive you…"

"I don't believe you…"

In short, her true body was determined to gather thoughts through unconventional means once again.

Supreme Dantai Xuan opened her mouth, then closed it. She clearly saw that the other simply wanted to humiliate her one more time. But to her, humiliation meant nothing—she didn't care. She stopped wasting words, looked indifferently at her true body, turned her face away, and fell silent.

Dantai Xuan turned earnestly to Ye Chen. "She's too cunning. I can't trust her at all. I can only trust myself…"

Ye Chen: "Mm-hmm… mm-hmm…"

Sure. I believe you. I believe you.

Still, he refused his Senior Sister's suggestion to proceed immediately.

"I understand how you feel, Senior Sister. But right now, your top priority is to break through to Saint, condense your seed, and then achieve Saint King. Only by forming the Heavenly Heart Imprint can you perfectly suppress your Supreme soul and secure complete dominance.

"So why not wait until you reach Saint King before collecting her thoughts again? I have an excellent relationship with the Heavenly Desire Sect. I can personally transmit the soul communion method to you. At that time, you can stir her emotions and probe her thoughts yourself…"

Dantai Xuan gave him a strange look. "Junior Brother, she's my own soul fragment… How could I possibly use soul communion on her? That's far too bizarre! I can't accept it. You should do it instead!"

The corner of Ye Chen's mouth twitched. He could see it clearly now. Three years locked inside the Divine Maiden Furnace had left his Senior Sister truly starving.

Ye Chen himself had no objection to the act. After all, the strange, dual-layered sensation of hearing two distinct moans at once was quite novel. The sense of accomplishment was strong as well. But now that he had obtained the Heaven-Suppressing Fortune Seal and possessed a sealing method—plus the divine treasure known as Heavenly Will Sand in his possession—His next steps were clear: visit the Heavenly Emperor Hall, then return to Great Yan Continent to break through to Saint King. And once he reached peak Saint King, he could make a trip to the Heavenly Desire Sect.

Beautiful women were delightful, but one shouldn't overindulge. Besides, Ye Chen was hardly lacking in that regard. So, facing his Senior Sister's eager plea, he shook his head firmly and without mercy. "Senior Sister, breaking through to Saint is the priority. As for your concerns? Let's address them after you reach Saint King. If you're still worried then, I'll help you once more…"

Dantai Xuan looked somewhat displeased at the refusal. But she also knew Ye Chen was right.

She nodded. Fine—after reaching Saint King, then. Currently, she was only a Half-Saint. Under normal circumstances, ascending to Saint King would take an extremely long time. But with the Cosmic Origin Crystals Ye Chen had given her, Saint was merely a stepping stone. Perhaps in just a few years, she could ask her Junior Brother to assist her again.

Seeing that Dantai Xuan had finally come around, Ye Chen gave a small smile and spoke.

"Senior Sister, it's not good for you to remain inside the Divine Maiden Furnace forever. I'll release you from it shortly. I have seniors from the holy land protecting me on the path. I'll ask them to escort you back to the holy land first. As for me, I still need to make a trip to the Heavenly Emperor Hall before returning."

Dantai Xuan immediately shook her head. "In that case, Junior Brother, you'd better keep me inside the Divine Maiden Furnace. The Dao of Human Desire cloaking me will also help suppress my Supreme soul and prevent her from influencing me during cultivation. Besides, the various energies inside the furnace are exceptionally abundant—perfect for cultivation. You can release me once you return to the holy land."

Ye Chen cast a skeptical glance at her. Though her reasoning sounded perfectly logical, given her earlier behavior, he couldn't help suspecting that she had grown addicted to staying inside the Divine Maiden Furnace and simply didn't want to leave…

If that were truly the case, then his Senior Sister really had serious issues. Her earlier eagerness might not have been entirely the furnace's influence—perhaps it was simply her true nature… But he could hardly ask her outright.

As for the minor spiritual energy she would consume by staying behind, Ye Chen didn't care in the slightest. After a brief moment of thought, he nodded, though he spoke directly.

"Senior Sister, the Divine Maiden Furnace resides within my cave heaven… My cave heaven contains many secrets that I cannot allow others to see. So once I leave, I will seal the furnace and isolate it from divine sense and will probes. You won't be able to exit on your own or contact me… You'll have to wait until I return to the holy land and release you myself."

Dantai Xuan showed no sign of minding his caution. After all, a cave heaven was the most vital and private domain for any cultivator. She could understand perfectly.

After exchanging a few more casual words, Ye Chen departed from Dantai Xuan's sea of consciousness under her reluctant gaze. Returning to his true body, he opened his eyes. The rich citrus fragrance filled the air once more. He glanced at Dantai Xuan's physical form. He couldn't look too long—too easy to get worked up…

After only a quick glance, Ye Chen stepped out of the Divine Maiden Furnace and raised his hand to cast a sealing art.

At that moment, Luo Bingling and Lu Jing spotted him and flew over with eager anticipation.

Ye Chen, having gone through quite a lot today, found the earlier soul communion had been little more than foreplay. He still carried some pent-up heat. Smiling warmly, he patted the two women. "Wait for me beside the Seven-Colored Nirvanic Jade… I'm feeling quite heated right now…"

Luo Bingling didn't panic in the least. She even nudged Lu Jing. "I'll go first later. I've recently gained new insights—I definitely won't be as weak as before…"

Lu Jing: "…"

…

Inside the Divine Maiden Furnace.

Supreme Dantai Xuan watched her true body sit cross-legged and begin cultivating. After a moment of frowning, she spoke.

"True body, I know you want to be rid of me… I also don't wish to remain entangled here forever. It delays both our futures. So I have a proposal that would allow you to break free from me completely. The Supreme Emotionless Scripture actually contains hidden passages. Among them is a separate technique…

"If you cooperate, I can fully separate from your physical body and seek a new vessel… From then on, you and I would have no further connection. Your body would no longer automatically cultivate the Supreme Emotionless Scripture and would return completely to how it was before…"

Supreme Dantai Xuan spoke the truth. Without emotion, she cared only for benefits. Abandoning Dantai Xuan's body would be a tremendous loss. After all, she had been born from it. It was the most suitable vessel for her.

But now the true body held the initiative. Once Dantai Xuan achieved Saint King, she would be utterly suppressed. The true body was already wary, making any reversal nearly impossible. Not to mention that Dantai Xuan now had Ye Chen as her Junior Brother. That man was terrifying—monstrously gifted, with divine soul power so formidable it defied imagination. He had seen through her divine technique with a single glance. Unthinkable. In that case, it would be better to leave and seek other opportunities.

Yet the true body's lips curved into a smile. "How could I possibly let you go? Stay right here where you belong."

Supreme Dantai Xuan frowned, puzzled.

The true body didn't hide anything and spoke with faint amusement.

"Cultivating the Supreme Emotionless Scripture, once I achieve immortality in the future, I can ascend to the Supreme Immortal Body. Now that Saint King is within reach, the three great realms beyond—Great Saint, Great Emperor, Quasi-Immortal—will hardly be obstacles. Why would I give that up under such circumstances?"

"Not to mention you are cold, emotionless, unaffected by feelings, and possess the deepest understanding of the Supreme Emotionless Scripture. You make the perfect enforcer—your combat power far surpasses mine…"

"In the future, when I fight others, I can simply release you to control the body. Once the battle ends, I'll suppress you again. At the same time, the Supreme Emotionless Scripture is mysterious—who knows what hidden dangers it may hold? The next time Junior Brother comes, I'll need to collect thoughts from you once more… So of course you cannot leave."

This time, Supreme Dantai Xuan was genuinely shocked. She hadn't expected her true body to want her as a wage slave. She immediately issued a cold threat. "Aren't you afraid I'll deliberately let someone kill me? And keeping me here—aren't you worried I'll one day turn the tables, lock you away, and slowly absorb and erase you?"

The true body's lips curved again, completely unperturbed by the threat. "I know you too well… As long as you remain alive, you will always choose whatever benefits you most… Deliberately sending my body to death during battle? That would be your loss too—you would never do it.

"As for the possibility of you turning things around in the future? Of course I worry! But riches and honor lie in the midst of danger. Without taking risks, how could I ever obtain the Immortal Body? Moreover, I have a Junior Brother so powerful I can't even see through him."

Thinking of Ye Chen, Dantai Xuan recalled their earlier soul communion. A soft hum escaped her lips, her eyes brimming with lingering aftertaste…